Even though all marriages start with the best intentions for a happily ever after, statistics prove that this is not always the case. The divorce rate in America over the last few decades has lingered around a staggering 50% according to many sources that rely on census data.

Often time, caught between the feuding husband and wife, are children who not only get to see their world torn apart, but also have the added burden of being shuffled between two households for the rest of their young lives. As if things couldn't get any worse, the drama just seems to escalate when either parent starts dating!

While most of us are not used to hearing stories of these proverbial broken families getting along and being happy, we have an amazing story from a divorced mom who has found a positive way to deal with dad's new girlfriend.

For Brittney Johnson, the past was not as perfect as she had hoped. Her marriage to her husband might have ended, but not without a sweet daughter Payton, as a token of their years together. Recently Brittney posted a heartfelt message on her Facebook page giving a shout out to a rather unlikely person in her daughter's life - daddy's new girlfriend Kayla! She starts off with a very simple yet profound question:

"To all of the mothers out there who throw a fit when another woman treats your child as her own: why isn't that exactly what you want?"

This is enough to leave most of us speechless, because let's admit it, there really is no good reason for this besides old grudges and hard feelings. Brittney goes on to say that her prayers have been answered in the type of woman her ex is dating:

"I prayed one night for the type of woman my daughter's father would be with, knowing that she would be raised in two homes. Kayla has been a gift of so much more than I could have hoped for."

Apparently, Kayla is a nursing student and has been a great example for Payton who sees her, day in and day out, working hard towards a goal, all the while being considerate and loving towards the family. According to Brittney:

"... I'm raising a strong girl, a smart girl and a sweet girl. And I want nothing more than for her to be surrounded with role models who are exactly that. Thank you Kayla for showing Payton how to chase her dreams, how to work hard and stay up late to study for a test. Thank you for still making time to ride her bike with her and make her mac and cheese even in one of the stressful times of your life."

Kayla even bought Payton a nurse's scrub costume so that they could match and role play. This really is everything that can make a mother proud of her young girl and of Kayla as she said:

"You're a true role model and an amazing bonus mom and we are so proud of you!"

The parting words of advice from Brittney are just as powerful as the question she posed in the beginning. She asks this of all the parents who are in similar situation:

"If you're co-parenting, and seeing your child doing things like this doesn't bring a smile to your face, reconsider what's truly best for your child. Payton has more people to love her this way, and what more could a mother ever want for her child? Being best friends with me AND being best friends with Kayla, is exactly where P deserves to be. It takes a village, and I happen to love mine."

Since Brittney posted her powerful message on Facebook, it has gone viral - being shared nearly 50,000 times with over 100,000 people reacting to it.